Washing machine



R.. B. BUKOLT WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. '7, 1959 ,5 sheets-sheet 1VHoman J5. Buffa/f Nov. l l, 1941.

WITNESS Nov.11,1941. I RBBUKgLT 2,261,932-l WASHING MACHINE Filed Nv.'7, 1959 s sheets-Sheena wugndOO v .70000 D WITNESS Nov. 11,1941,

R. B. BUKOLT WASHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ci.: cuonccftf Filed Nov.7, 1939 'TNES: 7]. www

Patented Nov. ll, 1341 UNITI-:p STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,261,932 f WASHINGMACHINE Roman B. Bukolt, stevens Point, Wis. Application November 7,1939,'Serial No. 303,264

(c1. css- 151) 9 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in washing machines of the generaltype in which an agitator is mounted for oscillation on a vertical axiswithin a tub having a bowl-like bot-- tom, and it aims to provide a newand improved agitator which will centrifugally move the Wash water insuch manner as to effectively circulate the same and cause repeatedpassage thereof through the articles being washed, at the same time,gently pressing the articles against and moving them upon rubbingsurfaces of the agitator, thereby effectively loosening all dirt andthoroughly rinsing same from the fabric.

With the foregoing and minor objects in view, the invention resides inthe novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, descriptionbeing accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a vertical sectional view showing the improved agitatorincorporated in a washing machine.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the agitator, partly broken away and inhorizontal section.

Figure 3 is a detail section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figures 4 and 5 are respectively, a partial section and a top planshowing a modification.

Figures 6 and 7 are views similar to Figs.v 4 and 5 showing a furthervariation,

Reference is Virst made to the form of construction shown in Figures lto 3.

The improved agitator A is shown centrally mounted within a tub T havinga bowl-like bottom B, the peripheral portion of which curves upwardly atC to the side wall W. The agitator A, however, could be used to goodadvantage in a tub having a more or less inverted conical bottom. I haveshown a tubular post P secured to the bottom B and extending upwardlytherefrom, said post having internal bearings P' and B' for a verticalshaft S to be oscillated by any conventional mechanism (not shown), aportio,... of the mechanism, however, being illustrated at M. The upperend of the shaft S has a splined or other detachable connection'D with asleeve 5 forming part of the agitator A, the upper end of said. sleevebeing closed at 6. The lower end of the sleeve 5 has a tight-pressedconnection with the hub 8 of the agitator, or said sleeve 5 is otherwisesuitably secured to said hub. When a pressed connection is employed, itis preferably splined and it may be additionally rivetedas indicated atl'. The hub. 8 is preferably provided with an internal bearing collarII) which rotatably surrounds the lower portion of the tubular post P.

The hub 8 is preferably of the substantially conical form shown, and aplurality of circumferentially spaced spokes 9 radiate from the lowerportion of said hub, said spokes having at vertical sides I0. Thelower-edges of these spokes are near the bottom B of the tub T, and theouter end portions of said spokes preferably turn upwardly to someextent as shown at 9. Alternate upper and lower segmental plates II andI2 extend between the spokes 9 and are integrally or otherwise rigidlysecured to the upper and lower edge portions of said spokes and tothehub 8. The outer ends of the upper plates I I are turned upwardly tosome extent as shown at II and the same is true of the outer ends I2 ofthe plates I2. The plates II and their upwardly turned ends II areformed with perforations I3, the upper ends of which are countersunk,providing said plates with gentle rubbing surfaces for contact with thearticles being washed and at-the same time making provision to allowdownward passage of water through the plates. The upturned ends I2' ofthe plates I2 are provided with perforations I4 which are preferablyidentical with the perforations I3, but the major portions of saidplates I2.are imperforate in the preferred construction. Whilementioning the portions I2', that the outer ends 9 of the spokes 9project `outwardly beyond said portions i2 and form paddles for radiallymoving the wash water.

The various plates II and I2 and the spokes 9 coact in forming alternateupwardly open pockets I5 and downwardly open pockets I6, all of saidpockets having substantially flat vertical sides formed by the sides I0of said spokes. The outer ends of the pockets I6 are open but the outerends I2 of the plates I2 constitute perforated end walls for the pocketsI5.

When theagitator Ais oscillatedwithin the tub filled with water, thespokes 9 centrifugally move the water, causing it to flow outwardly andupwardly along the wall W of the tub and downwardly over'the centralportion of the agitator, as indicated by the arrows. The upward andoutward inclinations of the pocket end walls I2 i and in so doing passesthrough the articles being attention is invited to the fact washed, atthe same time, gently rubbing them against the perforated rubbingsurfaces of the plates il. As the water in the pockets I is movedcentrifugally, some of it passes through the perforations I4 of the endwalls l2 and in so doing, passes through some of the fabric and pressesit against the rubbing surfaces of said end walls. The articles beingwashed, of course, move with the water in the directions indicated bythe arrows in Fig. .l and at the same time, lare oscillated with themovement of the agitator A. Thus, in a short while, all surfaces of thearticles will come in contact with the rubbing surfaces of the agitatorand the, washing liquid will be forced to travel a number of timesthrough the fabric. All dirt is thus effectively loosened and thoroughlyrinsed out. As the clothes descend around the sleeve 5, the conical hub8 overcomes any tendency which vthey may have to collect at the centerofthe agitator, insuring that they shall move outwardly with the currentsof water centrifugally induced by the agitator oscillation. In thepresent disclosure, the opposed side walls of the pockets I5 and lb andthe outer ends 9 of the spokes 9 are all instrumental in centrifugallymoving the water as the agitator is operated. The bowl-like bottom ofthe tub T is of course responsible to some extent for the directionalmovements of the water and the clothes, but these movements are alsocaused to quite an extent by the upward and outward inclinations ii andi2' at the outer ends of the plates il and i2, respectively.

While, in all forms of the invention, the agitator is of bowl-shape,this shape is accentuated in the agitator A shown in Figs. 4 and 5 andin the very similar agitator A2 illustrated in Figs. 6-

and '7. The two agitators A and .A2 are so simas it discharges from thepockets 28 and in fact as it leaves the entire periphery of theagitator, an upwardly-curved rim 30 is provided under the perforatedplates 24 and 25, being secured to the paddles 29 and to the centralagitator p0rtion 20.

The improved agitator operates on what I term a lateral ow vacuum andinertia pressure principle, the advantages of which are Athat itprovides more room in the tub for a larger amount of clothes; forces theflow of water through the 'fabric by the inertia pressure of water andvacuum; rubs the fabric over a perforated wall or barrier of the rubbingbowl or agitator to loosen the dirt while the water iiows throughthe-fabric; provides a strong yet-harmless washing action; and will washclothes cleanerin a relatively short time, without injury. y

When the tub is filled with water and clothes and the agitator orrubbing bowl is set into oscillating motion, the water will be expelledcentrifugally or in lateral directions, causing the ,water to flowthrough the perforatlons in the ilar that one description will apply toboth, cou- I pled with an explanation as to the difference. The centralportion 20 of the agitator is substantially imperforatefalthough it isprovided with a number of small openings 2| to permit draining of watertherefrom when draining the tub, said portion 20 being suitably securedtoa central hub 22 which may well be of the conical form shown. Suitablysecured to and projecting upwardly from the hub 22 is a tube or sleeve23 which may be mounted and oscillated in the same manner as the tube orsleeve 5, above described.

Alternate steeply inclined plates 24 and less steeply inclined plates 25are secured to the central portion 20 and incline outwardly and upwardlytherefrom, all of these plates being provided with countersunkperforations 26. Vertical triangular walls 21 extend from the subplates24 in forming radially disposed pockets 28 4whichwill centrifugally movethe wash water' and clothes as the agitator l`is oscillated. Centrifugalmovement is also imparted to the wash water by radially disposed paddles29 which project beyond the plates 24 and 25 in line with the walls orplates 21, f The agitator A' shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is intended for usein a bowl-like tub T', the shape of which cooperates with the shape ofthe agita.- tor in causing movement of the clothes and wash water asindicated by the arrows.

The form of construction illustrated in Figs. 6 and? may well be usedwith a flat bottomed -tub T and to assist in directing the waterupwardly agitator or bowl, from the inside to the outside, which flow isconverted to an upward movement as shown by arrows in a number of theviews. The water which returns to the bottom of the tub, at the centralportion of theI latter, causes the clothes to flow toward the outerinclined perforated wall or rim portion of the agitator. When theclothes reach this perforatedwall' or rim portion, the free iiow ofwater through the perforations is stopped by the clothes and thus moreor less of a vacuum is created on the other side, which will press theclothes against the inside surface by atmospheric pressure. Due to thebuoyancy and the weight of the clothes and water, the clothes are notset into motion irnmediately upon starting of the agitator or rubbingbowl in either direction and thereby will be gently rubbed against theperforated rubbing surfaces of said agitator or rubbing bowl. Asr

the clothes accelerate with the movement of the agitator or bowl, acentrifugal force or pressure is additionally applied to the clothes,pressing them still more firmly against the perforated portions of theagitator or bowl liwhile the water is passing through them. The clothesare forced to move outwardly and upwardly over the perforated inclinedwall or rim portion of the agitator or bowl and are circulated with thewater which returns to the bottom of the tub, at the center of thelatter. l

Further examples of the generic invention herein claimed are found in mycopending U. S. ap-

plication Serial No. 303,263, filed November 7,

I claim:

1. A washing machine agitator comprising a central hub to.be mounted ona vertical axis, an even number of substantially horizontalcircumferentially spaced spokes radiating from said hub and havingsubstantially vertical sides, alternate upper and lower, substantiallyhorizontal segmental plates extending between and secured to saidspokes, the outer ends of said up per and lower plates being upwardlyextended, said upper plates being perforated, said upwardly extendedends of said lower plates being perforated and the major portions ofsaid lower. plates being substantially imperforate; said spokes and saidupper an lower plates forming Va. disk having alternate upwardly openandv upon said vertical axis, causing downward ow of water through theperforations of said upper plates and outward flow of Water through theperforations of said upwardly extended ends of said lower plates.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1; said perforated outer ends ofsaid lower plates being inclined upwardly and outwardly to upwardlydirect some of the wash water. i

3. A structure as specified in claim l; said spokes having outer endsprojecting beyond said perforated upwardly extended outer ends of saidlower plates and constituting blades for centrifugally moving the Awashwater. e

4. A washing machine agitator comprising substantially horizontaldisk-like central portion having means for mounting it on a verticalaxis, alternate steeply inclined and less steeplyl inripheral portionfor upwardly directing the wash water and clothes when they are movedradially, said inclined peripheral portion having perforations throughwhich some ofthe radially moved clined perforated plates inclinedoutwardly from said disk-like central portion, and vertical radiallydisposed walls extending from the edges of the steeply inclined platesto the edges of the less steeply inclined plates. f

5. A structure asspecied in claim, 4; together with radially disposedpaddles projecting outwardly beyond said perforated plates Ain line withsaid vertical walls.

6. A structure as specied in claim 4; together K disk member. having anoutwardly inclined pewater may flow,-and horizontally elongated paddlesfixedly secured to and projecting downwardly from said inclinedperforated peripheral portion and extending radially substantiallythroughout the width thereof, whereby said paddles will centrifugallydisplace the wash water under said inclined peripheral portion and thuscause the water within the connes of said inclined peripheral portion toflow` through said perforations Aand press the clothes against saidinclined peripheral portion while said portion is directing water andclotheszupwardly. 8. A structure as specied in claim 7; one of saidmembers being provided with an additional and continuous outwardlyinclined portion under said paddles and secured to the lower edgesthereof for upwardly vdirecting the water which is centrifugally movedby said paddles.

9. A structure as specified in claim 7; said disk member havingcircumferentially spaced substantially segmental relatively low flatportions, othersubstantially segmental relatively high at portionsbetween said relatively low flat portions, and vertical radiallydisposed wallsjoining the radial edges of said high portions' with thoseof said low portions, both said high and low portions extendingoutwardly to the aforesaid in- I, clined perforated :peripheral portionof said disk member, said relatively high and low portions and' saidradially disposed walls providing'said disk memberwith downwardly openpockets open at their outer ends, and with upwardly open pockets havingsaid inclined perforated pe ripheral portion across their outer ends.

ROMAN B. BUKOLT.

